Daily Archives: November 28, 2016

The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) takes over Las Vegas Dec. 1-10, with many thousands of Western-clad visitors expected to pull for their favorite athletes at the world’s richest rodeo.

The National Finals Rodeo organized by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) … (UNLV) and is aired live on CBS Sports Network. … was achieved and Wrangler became the first title sponsor of the National Finals Rodeo.

Fifteen contestants in bareback riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding, along with 15 roping teams, will put their talents on display for nearly 18,000 fans a day in the newly renovated sports arena and thousands of others at casino properties all over town as they chase world championships.

“You would think that, after 32 years, it would get old doing the same event, but it’s never the same event,” said Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events, which co-sanctions the rodeo along with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. “There is always something new and fresh, so I’m looking forward to it again. It’s my favorite time of year.

Las Vegas Events and RFD-TV are teaming up for the third straight year Dec. 3-12 to bring you live behind-the-scenes television coverage of the entire Cowboy Experience during the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. In addition, Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147 will air live play-by-play coverage of every rodeo performance.

On RFD-TV, expect more than four hours of coverage each day from Las Vegas. The nightly go-round buckle ceremony from the South Point Hotel and Casino kicks off each daily broadcast schedule at 3 p.m. (ET). Flint Rasmussen’s talk show, Outside the Barrel, immediately follows at 4 p.m. daily, and afternoon programming wraps up with live daily broadcasts of Western Sports Roundup at 5 p.m. That’s when Steve Kenyon and Amy Wilson will provide up-to-the-minute news and conduct interviews with contestants, entertainers and more.

The hotels get better every year at customizing the experiences they’re offering for fans, and some new ones come on board,” Christenson said.

NFR General Manager Shawn Davis — a Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer who cast the deciding vote to bring the rodeo to Las Vegas in 1985 — has watched the event and its backdrop grow together.

“From Day One, we’ve always had great support from Las Vegas. We’ve always worked together, and the event has been very beneficial for PRCA and Las Vegas Events,” said Davis, a three-time world champion saddle bronc rider, adding, “You can never sit still, no matter what you’re doing. If you sit still, you’re going backwards. I hope the future continues to be as bright as the past.

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.In 2013 and 2014, he finished 16th in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s tie-down roping world standings, one slot away from qualifying for the Las Vegas championships.

But last year, Solomon roped in lots of cash early in the season and never looked back. When the 2015 regular season concluded on Sept. 30, Solomon had earned his the third NFR back number in five years.

Solomon, 26, who is from Prairie View, is expected to repeat this season. Last week, Solomon won the tie-down roping title at the Wrangler Champions Challenge tour stop in Pueblo, Colo., after turning in a time of 8.7 seconds.

“Right out of the chute last year our goal was to turn the RNCFR into the destination for competitors and rodeo fans, and we’re kicking it up a notch in 2016,” said County Commission Chairwoman Viviana Janer, in a press release.

“With five themed shows over the course of four days, there’s something for casual and hardcore rodeo fans. We are making every effort to create a marquee event that draws more and more fans to Osceola County for top-notch rodeo action each and every year.”

“Winning last year was a big deal for me,” Frost said. “I’d been to the RAM National Circuit Finals when it was in Oklahoma City in 2013 and ended up second. I was really excited to go back last year, especially since my brother (Josh Frost) and I both qualified and it was in Florida. He finished second and that was a special time for both of us. I’m really excited to go back this year.”

He is ranked in the top 15 in the PRCA’s tie-down roping standings as the result of earning more than $70,000 this year, which should be more than enough to qualify for the 2016 National Finals, which is scheduled for Dec. 1-10 at Las Vegas’ Thomas & Mack Center.

After missing the NFR in both 2013 and 2014, Solomon made sure that didn’t happen again last year. Solomon finished in the money an early season winter rodeo in Fort Worth. During the Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo last year, Solomon tied for fourth in the first round with a 9.1 ($3,282 in earnings). He also tied for third in the second round with an 8.5 ($4,070).